Should we even be looking at Old Birds?

[Henry Jay Hannigan]

Jack:
Enjoyed your "salesman..left alone story.."
LOL
Hank
90SP36






--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jack & Donna Smith"
wrote:
>
>
> Old Bird or Newer?? Well, as some say, "You Pays Your Money, and
> Takes Your Choice"...
> Our 1973 Bird lacks some of the items that are standard on Newer
> coaches, but also lack some of the headaches..What is a "Sporlian
> Valve", anyway, or "Air Operated Sreps"?
> As my old pappy said, "What ain't there, cant break".
> Some costs are less, such as my yearly DMV fee of $67,(even here in
> the Land of Arnold), and lower Insurance costs, and it afforded me
> my unique method of financing, One Payment & walk away with the
Pink
> Slip..
> But make no mistake, repairs may be necessary, and as Jeff Miller
> said, "Pay Now, oor Pay Later".
> The old coaches are much simpler and therefore easier (read Cheaper)
> to maintain.
> The great thing about Bluebirds is that they practically never wear
> out. A lot of the original items on our coach are still working,
> while I imagine my old "Sticks & Staples Tioga is probably in that
> Big KOA in the Sky...
> We also like to visit the various RV dealers and look over the
> current crop.. It is real interesting to see the look on the
> salesmans face when he asks us if we have an RV and we reply, "Yes,
> a Bluebird". We are usually left alone after that......
> Jack Smith
> 1973FC31
> SoCal
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Michael" <mike.putz@>
> wrote:
> >
> > I also agree with everything I've read here. I own a 63 Bluebird
> > conversion and just recently purchased a 78FC35. I choose this
> bus
> > to upgrade to a diesel, leveling jacks, bigger generator, etc..
I
> > did not want air bags as I like to go off road often with a
> trailer
> > full of quads and dirt bikes. I wanted something tough with
> ground
> > clearance. I had the pleasure of driving my friends 90SP36 from
> > Texas to Arizona not long ago. It was very nice, plush, fancy,
> and
> > strong with the 300 HP Cat. However, it was just not for me. So
> old
> > or new.. you can't go wrong with these busses. I'm a "bang-for-
> buck"
> > kind of guy on a small budget so the FC's were perfect!
> > Just another 2 cents...
> >
> > Michael
> > 78FC35 "Putz'n Around"
> > Mesa, Az
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Leroy, I think everything that has been said is on target. You
> > > certainly want the best that you can buy. No doubt the later
> FC's
> > > are considerably improved and being newer should in theory at
> least
> > > be in better condition. That being said there is always the
> debate
> > as
> > > to how much a guy should spend on an FC before he considers a
> PT. I
> > > have never ridden in or experienced a late model FC but my
> thoughts
> > > are if I was going to spend upwards of 50K would I add to it a
> > little
> > > (or a lot) and go with a PT. These are things you have to
> decide.
> > I
> > > was there a year ago and I am certain all of us would agree
that
> > you
> > > should invest in some travel and time to investigate a number
of
> > > these coaches before you buy. I think personal preference and
> how
> > > you are going to use the coach are the critical things to
> > consider.
> > > I love my old 1973 but if I was intending to make a lot of long
> > runs
> > > I would consider moving up. My coach is also smallish for more
> then
> > > two. I consider it like buying any vehicle you want to match it
> to
> > > your use as well as your pocket book.
> > > John Heckman
> > > central Pa
> > > 1973 FC
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "michaelhohnstein"
> > > > <MHOHNSTEIN@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "campingleroy"
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I have experience with quite a few mid 80s Birds, buying
> > selling
> > > > > and "fixing on." My 83 rear bath suits the wife and I real
> > well
> > > > and
> > > > > I wouldn't trade it for a triple slide anything. Not even
a
> > > Newell.
> > > > > That being said, I recommend 87 and newer FCs for those who
> > wish
> > > to
> > > > > get into a vintage Bird. The engine and accessories are
much
> > > easier
> > > > > to maintain due to improved design engine cover and swing
> > > radiator.
> > > > > 86 and older are a pain to adjust valves on, and that's not
> > good.
> > > > > Moreover the 87 up has a charge air cooler and 300 hp., a
> very
> > > > > welcome feature when trying to get down the road. The ZF
> trans
> > > is
> > > > a
> > > > > great piece and features OD.
> > > > > My 83 has been upgraded to 87 specs. Fiberglass engine
> cover,
> > > > > charge air cooler and inlet air enhancements. The Allison
> is
> > > > backed
> > > > > by a drive line OD transmission in front of the Jake
> retarder.
> > > > > I was able to do all this 'stuff' to my Bird due the line
of
> > work
> > > > > I'm in. Much easier to just pay a little more and get the
> > newer
> > > > > version, and it's all done for you.
> > > > > MH
> > > > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > My wife and I really like a lot of things about vintage
> > birds,
> > > > > > including the safety, reliability, and durability. I
> think a
> > > mid
> > > > > 80s
> > > > > > FC would be about the best fit for us and our budget.
The
> > one
> > > > > with a
> > > > > > double bed in the back, and 2 couches up front.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I dont mind tinkering and working on a lot of projects.
> Our
> > > > > current
> > > > > > coach is a 1989 Class C, I had to rebuild the entire cab
> over
> > > on
> > > > > that.
> > > > > > But I'm by no means a mechanic. I do consider myself to
> be
> > > very
> > > > > > mechanically inclined though. I can follow directions
> really
> > > > > well, if
> > > > > > there are procedures on doing projects though. And based
> on
> > > what
> > > > > I
> > > > > > know or believe things to cost, I can't afford to have a
> > > mechanic
> > > > > do
> > > > > > every bit of maintenance these things need. The
> electrical
> > > > > problems
> > > > > > concern me much less than mechanical ones.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > My question is, should I steer away from these old
birds?
> Is
> > > the
> > > > > > majority of the work something that an average person
> could
> > do
> > > > > given
> > > > > > patience and research/reading? Don't want to get myself
> in
> > > over
> > > > > my
> > > > > > head.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I would DEFINATELY want to hire someone to look at a unit
> > > before
> > > > > > purchasing, to make sure I understood what I was getting
> > myself
> > > > > into.
> > > > > > If I get to that point, I'll be asking here for
> > recommendations
> > > > on
> > > > > who.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I would just say this and that is buy from a person who loves
> his
> > > old
> > > > coach! Pay a little bit more but then most of the work has
> been
> > > done.
> > > > As far as Vlv adjustment that only happens every 50,000 miles
> and
> > > my
> > > > coach has only had that done two times. Yep and beside my old
> > coach
> > > > gets 10 mpg (1978) and the newer ones well we all know they
> were
> > > made
> > > > for cheap fuel prices in mind. Jon
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>